The Department of War has reportedly deployed the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group, alongside the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, to West Asia [1].
No public announcement from the department had been made as of the report, and the details were attributed to unnamed officials [1]. According to Firstpost, the USS Roosevelt joins two other carriers deployed to the region amid tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
The carrier group is expected to reach the region by the end of November, the report stated [1]. The deployment follows a U.S. official telling the Jerusalem Post (JPost) on Oct. 1 that the aircraft carrier and a unit of U.S. Marines would be sent to U.S. Central Command's (CENTCOM) sphere of operations [2].
The USS Makin Island amphibious ready group also departed San Diego carrying the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, JPost reported at the time [2]. According to other accounts, the group of ships now en route to the Middle East together carries more than 7,000 sailors and 2,000 Marines, and includes the USS Roosevelt carrier strike group. The USS Roosevelt recently deployed with the cruiser USS Chosin, and the USS Makin Island amphibious readiness group, which includes the USS John P. Murtha and USS Anchorage amphibious landing ships [3][4].
Current Carrier Deployments and Naval Assets in Region
Two U.S. carriers are currently deployed in West Asia, according to the report. The USS George H. W. Bush arrived in April, and the USS George Washington arrived in August to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln [2]. The George Washington's transit to the Middle East from the western Pacific left the U.S. with no aircraft carrier in the Indo-Pacific region, according to a defense security analysis [5].
U.S. Naval Institute News reported that the USS Theodore Roosevelt was moving to CENTCOM's area of operations in order to relieve the USS George Washington [2]. It remains uncertain whether the U.S. will keep three carriers in the region or whether the Roosevelt will relieve one of the others [6].
In addition, the USS Boxer amphibious ready group (ARG) is deployed in the Arabian Sea, carrying the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, alongside the USS Portland and USS Comstock [2]. In addition to the Bush and Washington and embarked carrier air wings, at least 15 other Navy warships are operating in the Middle East, and all told, there are some 50,000 U.S. forces in the region, according to U.S. Central Command [6].
The Roosevelt's carrier strike group includes Carrier Air Wing 11, the cruiser USS Chosin, the destroyers USS Paul Hamilton and USS Decatur and more than 5,000 service members [6]. The three-ship amphibious group, packed with more than 2,200 Marines, will likely replace the Boxer ARG, which is approaching eight months deployed and due for relief [7]. Some 2,200 Marines of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and sailors aboard the USS Makin Island are following the USS Roosevelt in cycling into the Arabian Sea [8].
Additional Assets Could Provide More Options, Report Says
In an interview with Time magazine published Thursday, Nov. 5, U.S. President Donald Trump said renewed large-scale strikes on Iran were "possible" after the November midterm elections [9]. The reinforcements are expected to add about 10,000 sailors and Marines to U.S. forces in the region, significantly expanding Washington's military capability, according to one account.
The deployment includes about 6,000 sailors in the carrier strike group and about 4,200 Marines and sailors in the Makin Island Expeditionary Unit and Amphibious Readiness Group [10]. The Makin left port at Naval Base San Diego on Monday, Nov. 9, carrying the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit – just one day after the Roosevelt was dispatched to cross the Pacific [8].
Amid these developments, Iran told Pakistan it will not resume talks with the United States until Washington meets Tehran's demands, Iranian media reported. The deployments and diplomatic statements come amid stalled U.S.-Iran talks and ongoing regional tensions.
References
- Pentagon deploys USS Theodore Roosevelt strike group, Marines to West Asia amid uncertainty over Iran: Report. https://www.firstpost.com/world/pentagon-deploys-uss-theodore-roosevelt-strike-group-marines-to-west-asia-amid-uncertainty-over-iran-report-14054195.html
- USS Theodore Roosevelt heads to Middle East amid Iran tensions. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-912321
- US troops are heading to the Middle East. https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-trump-ships-deployment-middle-east-42c23e9af0333f4bc3b4f419cc3a603e
- US sends third aircraft carrier to Middle East amid stalemate in Iran war. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/02/us-third-aircraft-carrier-middle-east-iran
- Amerika Kerah USS George Washington Ke Iran, Indo-Pasifik Tanpa Kapal Pengangkut Pesawat. https://defencesecurityasia.com/uss-george-washington-iran-as-tanpa-kapal-pengangkut-pesawat-indo-pasifik/
- Trump pursues Iran diplomacy as third US aircraft carrier heads toward region. https://www.stripes.com/theaters/middle_east/2026-11-09/iran-trump-strikes-diplomacy-war-23410322.html
- USS Theodore Roosevelt Arrives In Singapore; Last Stop Before Third Strike Group Reaches The Middle East. https://www.twz.com/sea/uss-theodore-roosevelt-arrives-in-singapore-last-stop-before-third-strike-group-reaches-the-middle-east
- Pentagon deploys thousands more Marines, another aircraft carrier to Mideast. https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/10/pentagon-deploys-thousands-more-marines-another-aircraft-carrier-mideast
- Pentagon Deploys Third Carrier Strike Group and Marines to Middle East. https://www.democracynow.org/2026/10/2/headlines/pentagon_deploys_third_carrier_strike_group_and_marines_to_middle_east
- War prep in full swing? USS Theodore Roosevelt to arrive in Middle East. https://www.theweek.in/news/middle-east/2026/10/21/war-prep-in-full-swing-uss-theodore-roosevelt-to-arrive-in-middle-east-by-november-end.html
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